Novartis (Bangladesh) Limited – Embedding Swiss Pharmaceuticals Innovation in Bangladesh Since 1973

With the purpose to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s life, Novartis (Bangladesh) Limited has been contributing to the health of the people of Bangladesh since 1973. Novartis use science-based innovation to address some of society's most challenging healthcare issues. Novartis discover and develop breakthrough treatments and find new ways to deliver them to as many people as possible. As part of a highly dynamic pharmaceuticals sector, Novartis has had more influence than most in shaping the health of populations worldwide. Bringing the current and all upcoming life-saving innovative solutions for the patients in Bangladesh is our utmost priority.

 

 

Novartis ensures access to global breakthrough innovative solutions for the patients in Bangladesh through its two divisions – Innovative Medicines division which commercializes innovative patented medicines to enhance health outcomes for patients and healthcare professionals and our Sandoz division is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars that pioneers novel approaches to help people around the world access high-quality medicines.

 

To manufacture our innovative products locally, Novartis Bangladesh brings knowledge from Novartis global through technology transfer. Its manufacturing site is located at Tongi in Gazipur. The facility strictly maintains cGMP as per WHO & Novartis Global internal guidelines in all levels of its manufacturing process with advanced excellent equipment, machinery, HVAC & Water Systems. The plant has EU GMP (AGES Austria) and ANVISA Brazil GMP Certifications. Fulfilling local demand, NOVARTIS started exporting their products in 40 different countries, including Asia, Europe (Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Sweden), Africa, and Latin America & Canada. As the country’s leading pharmaceutical exporters, Novartis received the National Export Trophy (GOLD) three times.

 

 

Pioneer in Bringing the Most Advanced Healthcare Solutions

Novartis takes pride in providing access to world-class most advanced Biologics available to the people of Bangladesh. It is among the pioneers in bringing these biologics in Bangladesh. Biologic medicine is produced from living organisms or contains components of living organisms which includes a wide variety of products derived from human, animal, or microorganisms by using biotechnology.

 

Novartis’s biologics became ‘A New Hope’ for thousands of Bangladeshi patients in several disease areas like Cancer, Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) & Psoriasis (PsO), Retinal blindness etc. Since it’s journey in Bangladesh, Novartis played a significant role in developing specialized healthcare professionals in the respective disease areas through the latest knowledge, information, and trainings. For example, during 2007, Bangladesh had a few numbers of Retina Specialist to serve a large number of patients. To improve overall care, Novartis launched academic programs to train up existing ophthalmologists which helped developing new Retina specialists in the country over the years.

 

Healthcare System Strengthening 

As one of the country’s leading pharma company, Novartis not only manufacture and market medicines, but also actively collaborate with different organizations in enhancing knowledge and building capabilities of HCPs through different programs. One such program is our recent collaboration with Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS) to introduce “Certificate Course on Cardiovascular Disease (CCVD)” which will support to train thousands of general Physicians on Hypertension (HTN), Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and Heart failure. These (HTN, HF and ACS) are global challenges among the non-communicable disease (NCD), particularly in countries like Bangladesh. Early detection, awareness and subsequent management would be a major milestone for combating these conditions.

 

Access to Innovator Medicines at Affordable Price

 

Novartis medications reach more than 750 million people worldwide every year, but many more people still lack access to essential medicines and healthcare. Novartis is committed to ensuring that its medicines are accessible to as many patients as possible, irrespective of where they come from. Novartis has therefore embarked on a journey to fundamentally shift the way Novartis does business and reimagine how to expand access to critical healthcare innovations specially in a self-pay-driven country like Bangladesh.Since 2003, our Access program “Glivec International Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP)” for CML (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) patients served life-long free treatment (YTD approx. 12 crore BDT worth medicine) to Bangladeshi patients and committed to serve as long as they need. Besides, with our different access programs for different cancer types, e.g. breast cancer, myelofibrosis, renal cancer, carcinoid tumours etc. more than 850+ patients are enrolled, and YTD Novartis has provided free medicines worth approx. 35 Crore BDT to these patients. Recent significant (up to 60% for some products) price reduction of Novartis’s

 

breakthrough medicines in several disease areas like Heart Failure (HF), Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Psoriasis (PsO) and Retina helped improving access to thousands of additional Bangladeshi patients who were unable to get the benefit of innovator medicines due to affordability challenges. Another access initiative Emerging Market Brands (EMB) initiative enabled Novartis to make available treatment of the unmet therapeutic areas at an affordable price in Bangladesh. This reinforces Novartis’s commitment to our patients who are unable to pay for the cost at the level of developed countries. The recent launch of Innovative Brand such as EMB in Bangladesh helped retina patients receiving treatment at an affordable price.

 

Novartis’s Global Sponsored CSR Initiatives in Bangladesh

ASTHA Project executed by Swisscontact

 

There is a scarcity of trained healthcare workforce in Bangladesh which is more acute in rural areas as HCPs are mostly stationed around urban areas. To improve the access to healthcare services for the community people of remote and rural areas in Bangladesh, Novartis in collaboration with Swisscontact joined forces with the Government of Bangladesh to develop and support an accredited mid-level healthcare workforce Community Paramedic (CP) through project ASTHA, which is helping to address the acute shortage of skilled healthcare workers in remote areas. ASTHA produced over 5,000 of CPs nationwide so far, who are providing quality primary healthcare services in their communities. It has further given them employment opportunities. Additionally, through various free health camps and awareness activities in remote areas, hundreds of thousands of rural people got access to and information about quality healthcare services. The contribution has been mostly meaningful in mother and child health. As of now, at least 400,000 rural people throughout the country received quality treatments through professional CPs.

 

Support for Distressed People During Calamities

 

 

Novartis is always committed to extending its support for the distressed people of the society to fight against the odds as and when necessary. The crisis is locally managed by the partner organizations e.g; Swiss Red Cross, Swiss Contact etc. funded by Novartis Global. Over the years, Novartis continues it’s donation and support for Bangladeshi people through Swiss Red Cross to manage calamities like flood, Covid-19 etc.

 

Extending Support for COVID-19 Crisis

 

To support the efforts of the Government during the COVID crisis, Novartis has taken all out efforts to ensure an uninterrupted supply of their medicine for their patients. Starting from opening a dormitory at their Tongi manufacturing plant for the continuation of production to arranging home delivery of medicine to prevent any potential delivery disruptions. Being one of the pioneer, Novartis donated Medical Grade Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) Medical Gowns, Masks and Goggles worth BDT 2.27 crore to Swiss Red Cross Bangladesh for the use of Health Care Professionals who are working at the designated COVID-19 hospitals in Bangladesh

 

At Novartis, our ambition is to be a catalyst for positive change and a leader in environmental sustainability. Our continued investment in our planet supports our purpose to reimagine medicine to improve and extend lives of people. It is also a way to build trust with society, if our actions are guided by a commitment to transparency and creating enduring change. Doing business responsibly is a core part of Novartis. Novartis is committed to creating a culture of integrity and demonstrate ethical leadership – because as a global leader in healthcare, Novartis has a responsibility to serve as a role model in how Novartis conducts the business.